Audio

911 dispatcher in fatal stabbing case fired

Published: Friday, May 10, 2013 at 12:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 10, 2013 at 6:02 p.m.

A New Hanover County dispatcher was fired Thursday, an official said, a week after she was criticized for her brusque handling of a fatal stabbing call last week.

County spokesman Charles Smith said Friday that dispatcher Letha Anderson was terminated, but he did not say if her dismissal was directly related to the May 2 call. He did not immediately know how long Anderson worked for the call center, what her salary was, or whether she'd been put on suspension prior to dismissal. According to the StarNews salary database, she was paid $37,382 annually.

In the audio recording released hours after the incident, Anderson sounds curt and repeatedly talks over the caller, who initially reports that her brother is suicidal and threatening to harm himself with a knife.

Ninety-eight seconds into the call, the girl screams that her father has been stabbed.

Christopher Eugene Roberts, 52, died from a stab wound to the back. Police have charged his son, Corey Eugene Roberts, 20, with the killing.

According to investigators, the elder Roberts was trying to calm down his son when he was stabbed in his back in the backyard of the family home on Night Hawk Drive.

Wilmington Police Lt. Tom Witkowski said no one witnessed the actual stabbing, but Roberts' wife was also home at the time.

In the 6:45 p.m. call to 911, Roberts' teenage daughter requests an ambulance because Corey Roberts is threatening to hurt himself.

Several times as the girl is speaking the dispatcher gruffly cuts her off, asking questions like the subject's age and relationship to the caller.

The teen, obviously unsettled, maintains composure in the call and answers the questions all the while insisting help come.

At one point, Corey Roberts can be heard angrily cursing in the background about his dad. The caller pleads with him, "What happened?"

The dispatcher continues to ask questions.

Dispatcher: Where is he at right now?

Caller: I need ... I need ... I don't know what's happening. They're outside. I need help right now.

<p>A New Hanover County dispatcher was fired Thursday, an official said, a week after she was criticized for her brusque handling of a fatal stabbing call last week. </p><p>County spokesman Charles Smith said Friday that dispatcher Letha Anderson was terminated, but he did not say if her dismissal was directly related to the May 2 call. He did not immediately know how long Anderson worked for the call center, what her salary was, or whether she'd been put on suspension prior to dismissal. According to the StarNews salary database, she was paid $37,382 annually.</p><p>In the audio recording released hours after the incident, Anderson sounds curt and repeatedly talks over the caller, who initially reports that her brother is suicidal and threatening to harm himself with a knife. </p><p>Ninety-eight seconds into the call, the girl screams that her father has been stabbed. </p><p>Christopher Eugene Roberts, 52, died from a stab wound to the back. Police have charged his son, Corey Eugene Roberts, 20, with the killing. </p><p>According to investigators, the elder Roberts was trying to calm down his son when he was stabbed in his back in the backyard of the family home on Night Hawk Drive.</p><p>Wilmington Police Lt. Tom Witkowski said no one witnessed the actual stabbing, but Roberts' wife was also home at the time.</p><p>In the 6:45 p.m. call to 911, Roberts' teenage daughter requests an ambulance because Corey Roberts is threatening to hurt himself. </p><p>Several times as the girl is speaking the dispatcher gruffly cuts her off, asking questions like the subject's age and relationship to the caller.</p><p>The teen, obviously unsettled, maintains composure in the call and answers the questions all the while insisting help come. </p><p>At one point, Corey Roberts can be heard angrily cursing in the background about his dad. The caller pleads with him, "What happened?"</p><p>The dispatcher continues to ask questions.</p><p>Dispatcher: Where is he at right now?</p><p>Caller: I need ... I need ... I don't know what's happening. They're outside. I need help right now. </p><p>Dispatcher: I'm getting help, ma'am. Listen, Miss Roberts, stop. Somebody else is already dispatching help to you. My asking questions is not delaying that, it's helping them. </p><p>Caller: I don't know what's happening. I'm on the phone with you. </p><p>Dispatcher: I understand that. Where is he at with the knife?</p><p>Caller: I don't know. He left the house. </p><p>Dispatcher: Ok, you do know - he left the house. Did he leave on foot or did he leave in a car? </p><p>Caller: He left on foot, but I don't, I don't know where he's going. </p><p>Dispatcher: OK, what's he look like?</p><p>Caller: He's African American. He's not very tall, about 5'7. He has kind of like, it's not an Afro but it's sort of.... I think he stabbed my dad! I think he stabbed my dad!</p><p>Dispatcher: Ma'am, ma'am, calm down for me. You're not helping anybody by being out of control. Where is your father? </p><p>The girls begins screaming and drops the phone. The dispatcher calls out her name. </p><p>Eight seconds later another female picks up the phone and frantically demands help. </p><p>Second caller: We need CPR! We need help! 503 Night Hawk Drive. We need help! Get an ambulance here now!</p><p>Dispatcher: Ok I'm getting.... Ma'am, stop. Calm down. Ma'am, they're on the way. Who needs CPR?</p><p>The phone is dropped again. Wailing can be heard in the background. </p><p>The dispatchers tries to get someone on the phone.</p><p>Then she yells out, presumably to other dispatchers in the room with her, "I've got somebody stabbed. CPR requested and nobody's answering me! Get someone there now!"</p><p>Christopher Roberts was pronounced dead at the hospital. </p><p><i></p><p>F.T. Norton: 343-2070</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @FTNorton</i></p>